Trees, Shrubs and Vines 
thorns of the Crvategus genus (hawthorn, black thorn, 
etc.) that it will hardly come into popular favor. 
Some genera, like acacia, contain several hundred 
species; but occasionally a genus-type has but a single 
representation, like Stefhanandra, in the rose family, 
in many respects resembling spirzea; but a marked dif- 
ference is in its more ornamental foliage, which is red- 
dish-purple in spring, then changes to a lustrous green, 
and in autumn resumes its spring-tint. In the flowering 
season the whole plant is enveloped in white bloom ; its 
native haunts seem to be in Japan. 
Few genera call for such extended notice, for their 
contributions in ornamental trees and shrubs, as the uni- 
versally popular magnolia; and the shrubs of this group 
are perhaps its most important section. Among the 
early spring flowers nothing is more conspicuous than 
the large purple and white blossoms of the J/. purpurea 
and MW. soulangeana,so profuse that the leafless branches 
are completely enveloped in bloom. The former has 
purple on the outside and pure white on the inside of 
the flower, whereas the latter, probably a hybrid, has a 
white flower that is suffused with purple. Even JZ. pur- 
purea is regarded by some as a hybrid. Both come 
from China and are perfectly hardy. In tint and text- 
ure of petal they do not compare with the more elegant 
rhododendron and azalea, but in mass of showy color 
they eclipse every other shrub we have. The buds, 
formed in the previous year, are large and prominent 
throughout the winter, as if eager to throw off their vel- 
vet wrappings with the first warm touch of spring. An- 
other foreign species, AZ. alexandrina, has large pink 
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